Cylinder for laundry-washers



M. S. MITCHELL.

CYLINDER FOR LAUNDRY WASHERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1919.

1 330,948. Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

INVENTOR. Manuel Kim A TTORNEY MANUEL S. MITCHELL, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

CYLIlN'DER FOR LAUNDRY-WASHERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application filed April 4, 1919. Serial No. 287,606. I V

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANUEL S. MrroHnLL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin,

'State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cylinders for Laundry-Washers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in cylinders for laundry machines of the type commonly used in power operated laundries and cleaning works.

The principal object of my invention is to' produce a cylinder adapted to fit into the containers as at present constructed, which will be provided with a plurality of separated compartments radiating from the longitudinal center of the cylinder. In the present form of single-compartment cylinders, all the fabrics to be laundried are dumped therein. If there are enough of these to fill the cylinder, the cleansing fluid does not percolate well through the entire mass, and as a result, unless the machine is stopped and the contents of the cylinder occasionally stirred up by hand, the fabrics in the center of the mass are not cleansed.

On the other hand, if the fabrics to be laundried only partially fill the cylinder, the revolving of the same Will cause the fabrics to be carried to'the top,'and then they fall to the bottom.

With this action being continued for any length of time, the fabrics are very apt to be torn.

Also, when laundried, the different kinds of goods laundried must be separated by hand, a very slow process when they tend to cling together in a mass.

With my improved cylinder, I am enabled to place a difierent kind of fabric or garment in each compartment; for instance, shirts in one, towels in another, and so on. Each compartment being relatively small there is very little movement possible of the fabrics therein even if the compartment is not full.

Another object is. to separate each com partment longitudinally so that there is an open space between each one, which permits the cleansing fluid to circulate freely through each compartment with the revolving of the cylinder.

Still another object is to provide a means in each compartment whereby the fabrics therein may all be removed with one operation without "touching the same with the hands. In the present form of cylinder, the laundry worker must reach down into the cylinder and extract the goods therefrom piece-meal by removing as many as can be grasped in the hands at one time.

A further object is to produce a simple, substantial and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly eifective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal-of the following specification and claim.

On the drai'vings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views. I

Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of my improved cylinder.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the cylinder, showing the same installed in a container.

Fig. 3 is a perspective elevation of a removable fabric removing means, installable in each cylinder.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the

numeral 1 indicates the end members of the cylinder suitably spaced apart, and preferably formed in the shape of circular disks. These disks are secured to a shaft 2, rotatably mounted in the, container 3, and being adapted to be revolved in alternating directions by any suitable means at present utilized for this purpose. These means are not here shown, as they form no part of my invention. A stub shaft at each endmay take the place of the one long; shaft, if desired.

seemed to the inner aces of the end disks 1 and extending from one to the other are walls 4, substantially radial from the shaft 2, and extending from-the periphery of the disks 1, each pair of adjacent walls terminat- "lng at an apex a certain distance from the shaft 2 to form spaces therebetween and compartments 6 between the adjacent outer walls of any such V-shaped spaces. All the walls 4 are closely perforated as at 7 to permit free circulation of a cleansing fluid therethrough. Hinged doors 8 provided with suitable catches are mounted over each compartment, the same being curved transversely to conform to the contour of the disks 1, and extend the entire length and width of the compartment.

Removable doors or plates 9 are adapted to seat against the walls 4 of each compa'rtment at the inner ends of the same and longitudinally thereof, such doors being provided with rods 10 rigidly secured thereto and prO ecting outwardly from each end,

the rods being provided with handles 11 ontheir outer ends adapted to fit in sockets 12 secured to the under side of the doors 8 when the same are closed, to prevent possible movement of the doors 9 when the cylinder is rotated. Guide grooves 13 are formed in the disks 1 to guide the rods 10 and held the same and the doors 9 against lateral movement. r

In the operation of the device, the cleansing fluid in the container 3 circulates freely through all the compartments 6 by reason of its being forced through the orifices 7 in .the side walls thereof. 7

The cleansing fluid cannot drain out through the doors 8, but will remain in the compartments to a certain extent even after they have been raised above the level of the fluid, as no holes areprovided in such doors. The fluid then must drain through the sides, which action causes a more thorough washing of the goods than would otherwise take place.

When the goods are laundried and it is desired to remove the same from any compartment, a door 8 is raised. and the handles l1 grasped to raise the bottom door 9. This action raises all the laundried goods in the compartment to the top and out with the one operation, there. being no obstructions of an kind in the compartment to prevent their free removal therefrom, and they may be then deposited onto a carrier or any other suitable object.

Thewashin machine may be so located, if desired Wit a large machine, under a block and tackle arrangement secured overhead, to which the handles -on the rods of the bottom doors may be removably con- .that the' cleansing fluid, being in considerable quantities in the washer in the spaces between the cylinder. is forced through each compartment with the rotation ofthe cylinder, rather than merely having a splashing action on the fabrics,

The power used will also be considerably less, as the cylinder being well balanced in stead of the fabrics being all one side or on the bottom, renders it easier to turn.

Furthermore, there will -'be practically no shrinking of the goods. This is mainly caused by the pounding and constant falling thereof had in the usual form of cylinder. \Vith my improved cylinder, however, there is no chance for this to occur, and hence the motor of the washer may be speeded up. to a considerable degree over present practice.

Also, there being no pounding or falling motion possible, it is not necessary to in-. close fine and delicate fabrics in net bags as is the present custom to prevent the same from being torn.

This form of cylinder is adapted equally well for regular laundry work or for drycleaning establishments.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the object of the invention as set forth herein.

\Vhile this'specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

a Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent .is:-

A cylinder for laundry washing machines comprising in combination with a container and a shaft extending theret-hrough and adapted for rotation, solid disks on the shaft'at the ends of the container, a plural ity of spaced and separate compartments grouped about the shaft and extending between the disks, the latter extending to the outer periphery of the compartments, the arcuate width of the latter being greater than that of the spaces therebetween, and solid doors on the outer faces of the (30mpartments and extending lengthwise thereof, the sides of the compartments being freely perforated whereby when the shaft is rotated the cleansing fluid being confined in the container between the disks will be forced through the compartments only through the orifices in the sides thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MANUEL s. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

VERADINE WARNER, VIVIAN Moms. 

